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Assessment of Virulence Potential and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in E. coli Isolates from Selected Ground Water Samples Around the Control Open Dump Sites in Sri Lanka

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Abstract  

Urbanization and accelerated industrialization have led to significant waste generation following the accumulation of massive amounts of solid waste in open dump sites. Groundwater contamination is one of the critical ecological concerns associated with the percolation of leachate from dump sites. E.coli O157 is a particular virulent serotype which produces Intimin and Shiga toxins, that cause severe diseases including Hemorrhagic Colitis, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in humans. The focus of the present study is to study the virulence potential and antibiotic resistance profiles in E. coli isolates from selected Karadiyana, Methotamulla and Kerawalapitiya control open dump sites in Sri Lanka. The E.coli was isolated following the standard MPN method and 5 randomly selected ( n = 5) colonies from each location were subjected to the virulence potential tests and antibiotic resistivity study. The results showed the total coliform count was ranged from 0–120 MPN/mL around the Kardiyana dump site whereas 0–75 MPN/mL and 3–115 MPN/mL recorded in the Methotamulla and the Kerawalapitiya dump sites. Overall, resistance in isolated E.coli against AMX, AMP, SUF/ TRI, SDI, CLOX, TET and ERM was high (> 70%) compared with the other tested antibiotics namely CIP, GEN and AZY (< 40%). According to the results, the Enteropathogenic E. coli pathotype was identified in 17 samples, whereas the Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli pathotype was found in only 3 samples.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and the Centre for Water Quality and Algae Research for providing the laboratory facilities for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Water Quality and Algae Research, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

    G. Y. Liyanage, P. A. K. C. Wijerathna, S. M. T. V. Bandara & Pathmalal M. Manage

  2. Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

    P. A. K. C. Wijerathna & S. M. T. V. Bandara

  3. Department of Aquatic Bioresources, Faculty of Urban and Aquatic Bioresource, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

    G. Y. Liyanage

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  1. G. Y. Liyanage
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Contributions

P. A. K. C. Wijerathna- samples collection, microbiological analysis, water quality analysis manuscript writing and editing.

G. Y. Liyanage – Molecular analysis, manuscript writing editing and proofreading.

S.M.T.V Bandara- sample collection, microbiological analysis.

P. M. Manage conceptualization, sample collection, manuscript writing, editing and proofreading.

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Correspondence to Pathmalal M. Manage.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Statement of Novelty

This is the first study conducted to investigate open dump sites in Sri Lanka as potential environmental reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic E. coli and their virulence potential. These organisms could represent a potential health threat through the contamination of groundwater.

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Liyanage, G.Y., Wijerathna, P.A.K.C., Bandara, S.M.T.V. et al. Assessment of Virulence Potential and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in E. coli Isolates from Selected Ground Water Samples Around the Control Open Dump Sites in Sri Lanka. Waste Biomass Valor (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-024-02544-x

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